Device for handling flanged objects



May 20, 1947.

H. EIRIKSSON 2,420,658

DEVICE FOR HANDLING FLANGED OBJECTS Filed Aug. 20, 1945 INVENTOR. /70/g@/" f/n/rsson ATTORNEY Patented May 20, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR HANDLING FLANGED OBJECTS Holger Eiriks son, Groton, Conn.

Application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,678

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for handling flanged objects, such as oil drums. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for simultaneously handling a plurality of flanged objects, with a minimum of manual manipulation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for simultaneously handling a plurality of flanged objects with speed and safety.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for simultaneously handling a plurality of flanged objects in spaced relationship, so that no contact and resulting damage may occur between them.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for simultaneously handling a plurality of flanged objects with a minimum of manual manipulation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation will be apparent from the following description and claim in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the device of this invention, depending from a crane hook and holding two oil drums.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a pair of pendants ll, each of which is formed into an eye at one end and a large bight at the other, suitable for engaging a crane hook. Pendants ll may be made of any strong flexible material, preferably wire rope. Pendants II are enclosed and spaced by eyes at the ends of spreader bar l2, the bight ends of pendantsll being on the same side of spreader bar l2. Shackles l3 connect rings M to the eye ends of pendants ll. Pivotally mounted on each of rings I4 is a pair of opposed cooperating chime hooks l5. Corresponding chime hooks l5 of each pair are rigidly held in spaced parallel relationship by spacers I6. The handling device is shown as depending from crane hook I! and as holding two oil drums 8.

The device is utilized in the following manner. The bight ends of pendants H are placed about the hook I! of a crane or similar hoisting or transporting device. Chime hooks I 5 are positioned over oil drums l8, and the device lowered until chime hooks l5 extend beyond the chimes of oil drums l8. Crane hook I1 is then raised, and chime hooks l5 engage the chimes of oil drums l8 and grip them securely. Oil drums l8 may then be moved to any desired location. The grip of chime hooks l5 will be secure as long as the oil drums l8 depend from them, and will be automatically released when the oil drums. come to rest on some object as crane hook I1 is lowered.

It will be apparent that oil drums [8 are held in parallel spaced relationship as they are suspended from chime hooks [5, the distance between them being determined by the length of spreader bar 12 and spacers l6. On being lifted by the handling device, the drums l8 will automatically assume the spacing thus determined, even though their spacing before being lifted varied somewhat from that, and the assumed spacing will be maintained by the handling device. This spacing precludes contact between the flanged objects, and resulting damage to the objects or their contents.

This is particularly advantageous from a safety viewpoint, as workers handling the chime hooks l5 during grip-ping and releasing of the flanged objects are in no danger of having their hands crushed between them. Fragile objects and objects having a tendency to detonate may be handled easily and safely. The spacing between the objects handled may conveniently be made to correspond to a stowage scheme. For example, the objects handled may be exactly spaced to correspond to notches on stowage racks onto which they are to be lowered.

For handling heavy objects, such as oil drums, the device is preferably constructed entirely of steel. The device may be constructed to handle three, four or more objects by merely extending spreader bar [2 and spacers l6, and adding an additional pendant I I, shackle l3, ring l4 and pair of chime hooks l5 for each additional object to be handled. In such case, the lengths of pendants I I must be adjusted so that the eye end-s will fall in a straight line when they are spread by spreader bar l2 and the bight ends are all looped over a single crane hook ll. It will be apparent that since all corresponding chime hooks l5 are rigidly held in parallel spaced relationship, no more personnel is required. to place the chime hooks during gripping and releasing operations than would be required to handle a single pair of chime hooks, no matter how many flanged objects the device is constructed to handle simultaneously.

If desired, chime hooks l5 may be hinged directly to spreader bar 12, :as by eyes or loops provided on spreader bar I: for that purpose. In such case, the number of pendants ll used to suspend spreader bar [2 may be less than the number of pair of chime hooks 15 depending therefrom, one pendant I l at each end of spreader bar l2 being suitable if spreader bar I2 is sufflciently rigid when carrying a load.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in this invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claim.

The invention described herein may be manufac'tured and used by or for the Government of the United-States of America for governmental purposes Without the-payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

A handling device comprising two ,pairs of chime hooks, a ring passing through the ends of each pair of said chime hooks, a shackle connected to each ring, a cable pendant connected to each shackle, a spreader bar having an'eye on each end, said cables passing throughsaid eyes and slidably mounting said spreader bar, and generally parallel rigid bars fixed to one of each pair of said chime hooks.

I-IOLGER EIRIKSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 435,839 Hunter Sept. 2, 1890 596,908 ONeill Jan. 4, 1898 624,078 Patriarche May 2, 1899 1,376,414 Farnsworth May 3, 1921 2,317,845 Westfall June 5, 1945 

